Immokalee's Yves Gomez and Jesus Velazco celebrate a goal in the first period of the Indians' 3A regional quarterfinal game against Cape Coral-Mariner on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013. Scott Butherus/Staff

CAPE CORAL - Before the Immokalee High School boys soccer team's 3A regional quarterfinals match against Cape Coral-Mariner, Indians coach Saintano Damas spoke of destiny and how his team is right where they needed to be.

Those words rang true as an unlikely hero found himself in the right place at the perfect moment to give the Indians a 2-1 win over the Tritons in double overtime to set up a rematch at Estero in the semifinals Saturday.

With time about to expire in the second extra period, junior right winger Jose Mandujano, coming off the bench, was right where he needed to be. After Eduardo Arce's header attempt off a Jesus Velazco corner kick ricocheted off a Tritons defender, Mandujano found himself in the perfect position to bang in the rebound into the net, setting off a shirtless jubilation.

"I didn't know if it was going to go in. I got my foot on it and it just went in," Mandujano said. "When my friend Arce's shot got blocked, it ended up right next to me so I took my shot."

"It was nerve-wracking. It was down to the teeth," Damas said. "They hung in there and they hung in there and somebody from the bench gave us the score. You can't ask them to do any more."

It was one of the few offensive moments in what was a physical, defensive skirmish played primarily at midfield.

Immokalee sophomore midfielder Yves Gomez broke out in front of the pack at the 9:40 mark in the first period, and punched it just out of reach for an unassisted goal to put the Indians on the scoreboard.

The Indians held that lead, thanks in large part to the fine performance by goalkeeper Jose Guzman, until midway through the second period when Immokalee's Alex Hernandez was whistled for tripping a Tritons player directly in front of the Indians net. Mariner's Lucas Orellana blasted the ensuing penalty kick into the right corner, just out of the reach of Guzman.

"I wanted to go without them getting a goal, but they got that penalty in there. I'm not really good at penalties," Guzman said.

Guzman wouldn't let that rattle him as he clamped down and thwarted several one-on-one breakaway opportunities by Mariner, including a flurry of five consecutive shots in a two-minute span at the 10-minute mark in the last period of regulation.

"It was intense," Guzman said. "I actually thought they were going to come out on top."

"They fought a good fight. They didn't give up. That is what it is all about," Damas said.

Damas said he was relieved that the game didn't end up in penalty kicks where Mariner (16-6-5) has been especially effective, including a 1-0 win over Cape Coral to win the 3A-11 district championship that was decided on PKs.

"That is probably one of the best teams we had played all year. They were physical, they beat us to the ball all night. It was just a great game to see," Damas said. "That is why I am so emotional. These are tears of joy, though."

The Indians (17-2-4) will now face an Estero team that denied them a district championship.

"I'm ready to get back at them for sure," Guzman said.

"One of our goals was to repeat what we did last year, and I think these guys have proved they have the heart, the courage and the determination," Damas added. "Any team that is going to beat them is going to have to bring it."